Rotary washing machine



Oct. 1, 1929.

A. P. BROOKS ROTARY WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 13, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet B waq -ncys Oct. 1, 1929. A. P. BROOKS 1,730,338

ROTARY WASHING MACHINE Original Fi1ed Jan. 13, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1, 1929 I ALBERT BROOKS, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS no'rnn'r wnsnnve cnmn Application filed January 13, 1923, Serial No. 612,447. Renewed January 3, 1929.

invention relates to a rotary washing machine adapted to operate upon a plurality of washings simultaneously, each kept separate from the others by means of individual containers. v

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a. rotarysupporting mechanism for a number of thesecontainers located in a washing vat; to provide the supporting.

w mechanism in a compact and simple form and of such shape that the containers can be moved into it through one end and will not haveto be fastened against motion in a radial direction; to provide the supporting means with anti-friction devices so that the containerscan be loaded and unloaded easily; to provide racks'at the ends of the device for use in directingthe containers toward and from the machine; and to provide improvements in the containers themselves.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings'in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a washing machine c on- ,structed in accordance with this invention with the cover of the vat removed;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a rack or platform for loading or unloading;

Fig. 4: is a longitudinal sectional view on enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showin%details thereof;

ig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of one of the containers for the washings; and V Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

The invention is shown in a form involving a vat 7 of general cylindrical form and of such len 11 as may be desired. It is supported rigi ly and provided with pipes 8 and an 9 for introducing hot and cold water at will.

- Each end of the vat is provided with a door 10 in the form of a' quadrant, preferably,

through which the washings can be introduced or removed. Its lower side is located conveniently at the same level as the loading platform or rack 11 at one end, and a similar rack 15 at the other end.

Each. of these racks consists of a frame made u in any desired way, and .pro-

to vided with a series of freely rotable afts 12 mounted on side pieces 13 and each having rollers 14 thereon. This rack for loading is located at one end of the va't and registers with a horizontal line drawn from the center of the vat, and the unloading platform 15 is located opposite it at the other end. I have not shown any means for rotating these roll ers-by power. The containers for the washingscan be pushed in over the rollers by hand.

Extending centrally and longitudinally through the vat from end to end is a main shaft 20. This can be driven by power in any desired way, but I prefer to provide gearing for driving it a few revolutions in one direction, reversing,- and then drivin it in the opposite direction automatically, ut I have not shown any gearing for that purpose herein.

On this shaft are provided opposite pairs of radiating arms 21, the arms of each pair being spaced longitudinally along the shaft from the arms of the next pair which are arranged at ninety degrees therefrom. The pairs of arms are arranged alternately. Each of these arms is formed of strong material of any desired kind, and at the end each one is provided with a transverse cross-piece 22 and preferably with angle irons 23 located under its edges- C On these arms 21 are located shafts 24 having anti-friction rollers 25, which, when the arm is horizontal, register with the two racks 11 and 15 at the ends. I

The individual washings are intended to be arranged in sector shaped containers which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as being of wood, although metal containers can be used. Each of these is of quadrant form having two sides 30 at right angles to. each other, and a curved front side 31 concentric with the center of the machine,so that they are three sided. The curved side has a door 32 adapted to be hinged to it near one end, and detachably connected at the other side by means of hooks 33 or the like. These three sides 30, 30 and 31 as well as the door 32 are all provided with a series of small perforations.

The containers are completed by two ends 34 which preferably are not perforated.

The operation of the device is very simple. we

with them a little as they rotate.

The individual washings in the containers are laced on the roller platform at the left in ig. 1. These are moved in the opening 10 at the end on the rollers 14 and 25, preferably by hand. Twelve containers are moved in, one after the other in a single line from the rack 11 and, as each is moved in, the others are forced along on their rollers until one section of the device is filled. Then. the shaft is rotated a quarter revolution, and the next section filled in the same way. If the machine is entirely filled in the size indicated in the drawings, there will be fortyeight washings. When located on the rollers 25 in the machine the containers are held in position and prevented from being disconnected from the frame or dislodged therefrom by the overhanging ends of the bars 22 and the angle irons 23 at the ends of the arms. They are supported on the arms 21 and come in to contact with the vertical arms corresponding therewith which alternate with them as stated. It will be understood that the angle irons 23 constitute tracks on which the receptacles are supported and also prevent their being dislodged by centrifugal force in a radial direction, but they allow them to be moved along the vat and of course guide them through it.

Power is then turned on, and the machine rotated preferably with an oscillating motion. Only a small amount of water is required in the bottom as the perforated forward upper sides of the several containers receive a small part of the water and raise it The water 1 poursinto each container through the perforations therein and is turned therewith by the rotation of the shaft. The water has through access to all of the closing before it passes out through the perforations opposite. It has been found in practice that a very thorough cleaning operation is provided by this means. The introduction of the water in small streams against the clothing itself tends to loosen and dislodge the dirt from the articles in the container, and the water continuously passes back and forth through it as the shaft is turned in opposite directions. The wash vibrates back and forth in the containers. After having been washed with a soapy warm water that can be drawn ofi' rinsing water can be introduced either with or without stopping the operation of the shaft and the rinsing operation can take place therefore immediatel after the .washing. Blueing can be intro need, of course if desired.

troduced at one end from the roller platform those that have been through the process are forced out at the other end one by one on the delivery roller rack 15. Whenenough have inserted to fill one longitudinal space the shaft is rotated a quarter of a revolution and the process repeated until the containers having the washings that have been finished are all discharged and. the machine is again filled ready to have the process repeated.

This arrangement can be used for Washing or rinsing or blueing, or all three combined, and it can be used for white or colored clothes, but it is not intended ordinarily to be used for both at the same time.

It has been found in practice that this machine can be designed to take care'of a large number of individual washings at the same time, and on account of keeping each wash in its own container from the time it enters the laundry until it is ready to be discharged the customers are much better satisfied, and

the trouble involved in checking up the clothes is almost entirely eliminated. Furthermore there is no necessity of markingthe clothing in any way. The system which I have employed is to place' in the container a tag 40 formed of brass or other metal and have a duplicate tag 40 which will indicate the owner. This is all the checking or marking that is necessary. This tag is located in a slot 41 in the inside surface of one of the ends of the container under the edge of the cover 32. This slot is undercut on its side so that the tag or check will be held therein by the undercut edges and the cover. The tag or check can be inserted in a substantial radial direction when the cover is open. When the cover is closed the end of the slot is closed thereby and the tag or check cannot come out, so that there is no danger of getting them mixed up.

After the clothing comes out of this machine preferably it is rough dried by means of centrifugal driers of well known type. This permits of the handling of a very large number of washings in minimum time, and the performing of the washing operation with much more efliciency than has been the case heretofore.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a washing machine, the combination with a vat for containing the washing water, a longitudinal shaft extending therethrough having radial arms, and a series of angle irons at the ends of said arms projecting out wardly therefrom tangentially and constitut- 25 and adapted to be closed by the closing of.

of a series washings, each having two walls at an angle to each otherequal to the angles between said arms, said containers each having a curved wall connecting .them and arranged to detachablyrest on the arms, the angle irons acting as tracks to guide the containers alongvthem, whereby containers can be mtroduced atone end of the frame and forced 7 along to load up the frame.

2. In an art-1' 1c of manufacture, a sector shaped container for clothing adapted to-be perforated to'permit the passage of water,

receptacle mounted in a washingmachine, comprising a having two flat sides at an angle to.

a third side of arcuate shape I each other, andconnecting their ends, said three sides being and two flat ends parallel withjeach other connecting'saidsides, one side having as a part of it a removable cover for the introduc tion and discharge of the contents, one ofthe ends being provided with an undercut slot extending in from the edge which the cover engages, for the reception of an indicator the cover.

' 3. As-an article of manufacture, ,a containernforclothing adapted tobemounted in cover.

having si es and ends parallel with a. washin machine, comprisinga receptacle 7 each other connecting said sides, one side having as a part 'of it a removable cover for the introducone of the tion and discharge of the contents, ends being provided with an undercut slot extendin in from the edge which the cover engages or the reception of an'indicator and adapted to be closed by the closing of the In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

mg with the arms and shaft a rotary frame,

of containers for the individual ALBERT; P. BROOKS. I 

